Do/Did You Let Your Children Run Around Naked?

[I.J. Reilly]

This article in the NYT made me wonder how common it was for people to let their children run around naked. Many children that I knew, at least at some point, couldn't stand to have their clothes on. Do you let them strip down in the house? Outside? At what age did you make them stop or did they just quit on their own?

One of my younger sisters, at about 2 or so, used to love to strip everything off and then run into the backyard and jump on the trampoline. This happened pretty frequently for a while and then it pretty much stopped. There are pictures of me playing in the Puget Sound (steps from our house) as a three-year-old in only a Superman tee-shirt. I was playing with a few of the neighborhood children and, iirc, they too were bottomless.

[wuapinmon]

This article in the NYT made me wonder how common it was for people to let their children run around naked. Many children that I knew, at least at some point, couldn't stand to have their clothes on. Do you let them strip down in the house? Outside? At what age did you make them stop or did they just quit on their own?

One of my younger sisters, at about 2 or so, used to love to strip everything off and then run into the backyard and jump on the trampoline. This happened pretty frequently for a while and then it pretty much stopped. There are pictures of me playing in the Puget Sound (steps from our house) as a three-year-old in only a Superman tee-shirt. I was playing with a few of the neighborhood children and, iirc, they too were bottomless.

A couple of months ago, I was in the bathroom in our home office (a separate wing of the house), my wife comes down, opens the door and starts talking to me (she does this). While we're talking, all of a sudden, my daughter and the daughter of one of my colleagues who was over playing with my kid come running by into my office, right past the open door. Luckily my wife was blocking their view, and they didn't even notice me, but if they had.......oh shit, the explanation I would've had to have given over something harmless. Nothing could've been seen save my largess on the toilet, but no matter what, I'm under suspicion forever if their daughter had just glanced to the right for a second as she came bounding down the stairs.

I gave my wife death ray eyes and she closed the door in a hurry, apologizing to me several times that day.

[I.J. Reilly]

A couple of months ago, I was in the bathroom in our home office (a separate wing of the house), my wife comes down, opens the door and starts talking to me (she does this). While we're talking, all of a sudden, my daughter and the daughter of one of my colleagues who was over playing with my kid come running by into my office, right past the open door. Luckily my wife was blocking their view, and they didn't even notice me, but if they had.......oh shit, the explanation I would've had to have given over something harmless. Nothing could've been seen save my largess on the toilet, but no matter what, I'm under suspicion forever if their daughter had just glanced to the right for a second as she came bounding down the stairs.

I gave my wife death ray eyes and she closed the door in a hurry, apologizing to me several times that day.

These are the types of things from which we should be protecting children! If the proper policies and procedures had been in place, such a thing never would have happened. My hope is that one day you will post, in easy to read places in your home, all of the rules and proper courses of action in regard to children. Perhaps you should consider having all of your future interaction with children in public places, preferably in open fields, and not let them in your home.

[All-American]

These are the types of things from which we should be protecting children! If the proper policies and procedures had been in place, such a thing never would have happened. My hope is that one day you will post, in easy to read places in your home, all of the rules and proper courses of action in regard to children. Perhaps you should consider having all of your future interaction with children in public places, preferably in open fields, and not let them in your home.

Adults should never have their pants down whilst children are in the house. It's just common sense.

[RobinFinderson]

Of course we do, and we lead by example... as if that will surprise anyone.

[Colly Wolly]

Nakedness longer than a minute or so is not permitted (ie, letting them run away while I change a daiper). However, I think there is an endearing, WT appeal to letting a kid run around the house and yard in just a daiper during the summertime. Our littlest does it all the time.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Until about age 3 or so, then we make them wear shorts/pants/underwear. But shirt/shoes are optional.

[TripletDaddy]

Too WT for my tastes. They were on diaper patrol when they were little. Once your kids hit 3 or so, it stops being cute and starts dragging down property values.

[Indy Coug]

No. My children are not stone age tribesmen.

[Colly Wolly]

Too WT for my tastes. They were on diaper patrol when they were little. Once your kids hit 3 or so, it stops being cute and starts dragging down property values.

I agree. Once they are potty trained they need to be fully clothed at all times.

[Art Vandelay]

[URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/garden/16nudity.html?hp"] Do you let them strip down in the house? Outside? At what age did you make them stop or did they just quit on their own?

.

Children above the age of 1? Not until I move to the local Meth producing neighborhood. My wife? This is highly encouraged, at least indoors. Actually, I think she has some sort of repressed exhibitionist tendency. My wife is much more comfortable in her Eve state than I am in my Adam.

[RobinFinderson]

Too WT for my tastes. They were on diaper patrol when they were little. Once your kids hit 3 or so, it stops being cute and starts dragging down property values.

Don't think of it as WT. Think of it as 'naturalist,' and then it becomes really hip and cool.

[TripletDaddy]

I agree. Once they are potty trained they need to be fully clothed at all times.

I should clarify.....I was cool with some diaper patrol around the house or in the backyard. I am not down with kids running around naked in the backyard or even to play in the house. Being naked to change their diaper or dress them or whatever is fine. But naked for an hour while they run around.....didn't happen at our house.

I actually don't recall seeing my nieces and nephews playing sans clothing. Is this a common thing?

[TripletDaddy]

Don't think of it as WT. Think of it as 'naturalist,' and then it becomes really hip and cool.

most people are physically unattractive, so being naked is not cool. I don't want to see their nude bodies, esp if they have gross feet with jacked up toes and that nasty bump that sticks out of the side of the big toe. This is a courtesy that I extend to the world. I don't think that it is too much to ask in return.

[UtahDan]

There is a family of down the street from me who has let their toddler have free unsupervised run of the neighborhood since last summer wearing only a soiled diaper and a pacifier that is also filthy and tied around his chest somehow.